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Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) expressions in Ethiopian female breast cancer and their association with histopathologic features
Journal
PLOS ONE
ISSN
1932-6203
Date Issued
2024-10-15
Author(s)
Sisay Addisu
Abebe Bekele
Daniel Seifu
Mathewos Assefa
Tufa Gemechu
Mark J. Hoenerhoff
Sofia D. Merajver
Editor(s)
Daniele Ugo Tari
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0308411
Abstract
<jats:sec id="sec001">
<jats:title>Background</jats:title>
<jats:p>Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGF) play important role in breast tumor growth, invasion, metastasis, patient survival and drug resistance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protein expression status of EGFR and VEGF-A, as well as their association with hormone receptor status and histopathological characteristics in the invasive type of female breast cancer among Ethiopians.</jats:p>
</jats:sec>
<jats:sec id="sec002">
<jats:title>Method</jats:title>
<jats:p>The primary breast tumor tissues were obtained from 85 Ethiopian invasive breast cancer cases that underwent modified radical mastectomy (MRM) from June 2014 to June 2015. Their FFPE blocks were analyzed for EGFR and VEGF protein expressions using immunohistochemical techniques. The expressions were also correlated with histopathologic features.</jats:p>
</jats:sec>
<jats:sec id="sec003">
<jats:title>Result</jats:title>
<jats:p>Epidermal growth factor receptor over-expression was observed in 22% of the tumor samples. VEGF-A expression was negative in 13.41%, low in 63.41%, moderate in 20.73%, and high in 2.44%. EGFR expression, but not VEGF-A, showed a significant inverse correlation with both estrogen receptor (ER) (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> = 0.01) and progesterone receptor (PR) statuses (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> = 0.04). EGFR and VEGF expressions did not show significant association with tumor size, grade, lymph node status or age at diagnosis.</jats:p>
</jats:sec>
<jats:sec id="sec004">
<jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title>
<jats:p>Epidermal growth factor receptor expression was most likely associated with ER and PR negative tumors. Assessments of multiple molecular markers aid to understand the biological behavior of the disease in Ethiopian population. It might also help to predict which group of patients might get more benefit from the selected treatment strategies and which are not.</jats:p>
</jats:sec>
<jats:title>Background</jats:title>
<jats:p>Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGF) play important role in breast tumor growth, invasion, metastasis, patient survival and drug resistance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protein expression status of EGFR and VEGF-A, as well as their association with hormone receptor status and histopathological characteristics in the invasive type of female breast cancer among Ethiopians.</jats:p>
</jats:sec>
<jats:sec id="sec002">
<jats:title>Method</jats:title>
<jats:p>The primary breast tumor tissues were obtained from 85 Ethiopian invasive breast cancer cases that underwent modified radical mastectomy (MRM) from June 2014 to June 2015. Their FFPE blocks were analyzed for EGFR and VEGF protein expressions using immunohistochemical techniques. The expressions were also correlated with histopathologic features.</jats:p>
</jats:sec>
<jats:sec id="sec003">
<jats:title>Result</jats:title>
<jats:p>Epidermal growth factor receptor over-expression was observed in 22% of the tumor samples. VEGF-A expression was negative in 13.41%, low in 63.41%, moderate in 20.73%, and high in 2.44%. EGFR expression, but not VEGF-A, showed a significant inverse correlation with both estrogen receptor (ER) (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> = 0.01) and progesterone receptor (PR) statuses (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic> = 0.04). EGFR and VEGF expressions did not show significant association with tumor size, grade, lymph node status or age at diagnosis.</jats:p>
</jats:sec>
<jats:sec id="sec004">
<jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title>
<jats:p>Epidermal growth factor receptor expression was most likely associated with ER and PR negative tumors. Assessments of multiple molecular markers aid to understand the biological behavior of the disease in Ethiopian population. It might also help to predict which group of patients might get more benefit from the selected treatment strategies and which are not.</jats:p>
</jats:sec>
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